Geology in the National Parks

Introduction

Questionnaire
• 1. What is your name?
• 2. What is your major?
• 3. Why are you taking this course and what do you expect to learn?
• 4. What aspect or topics about Geology or the National Parks interest you?
• 5. What science classes have you had recently?

Logistics
• Who am I????
• Dr. Karl Leonard
• Assistant Professor - Geology
• Paleontologist
• Ph.D., 1999, Indiana University
• Palouse, Washington
• Office: Lommen 91
• Phone: (218) 477-2682
• E-mail: leonardk@mnstate.edu
• Office Hours: MWF 2:00-4:00 pm, & TTh 1:00- 3:00 pm, or if I’m there

The Course
• text: Harris, Tuttle, and Tuttle – Geology of National Parks (GNP), 6th edition – available at the book store
• Get a three-ring binder…
• Class web page can be found on: http://web.mnstate.edu/leonardEvaluation/Grading
• The total grade is calculated from a standard 100% scale. The grade will be determined from:
• lecture quizzes (70%): There will be 3 lecture exams, each worth 18% of the lecture grade. Students will take a comprehensive final exam worth 16% of the total grade. No make-up exams will be offered.
• daily questions (5%): Each class will begin with a short answer question
• exercises and discussions (25%): Short discussion reports will comprise 5% of the grade, and exercises (5 to 7) will be worth 20% of the total grade..

Policies
• Attendance: Students are expected to attend all lectures.
• Incomplete Grades: A course grade of I will only be allowed under extreme circumstances.
• Lecture & Lab Schedule (Tentative) - see syllabus

The National Park System
• The First National Park = Yellowstone - 1872
• National Park Service Established - 1916
• At present 54 national parks plus…
– National Monuments
– national wildlife preserves
– Sea shores
– Lakeshores
– Rivers
– scenic trails
– wilderness areas
– historic trails
– national battlefield parks
– other historic sites

The National Park System
• National Park Service Established in 1916 by an act of congress…
• Purpose
– “…to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
• PROBLEM?
• Enjoyment versus Preservation
• Degree of protection
– Politics
– Demand for resources
– Special interests

The National Park System
• Why do people enjoy the parks?
• The scenery

The National Park System
• Why do people enjoy the parks?
• The wildlife….

Geology in the National Parks
• Why are the National Parks so scenic?
• Geologic Processes!!!!!
• History - Geologic History

Geology in the National Parks
• Major themes of the course…
• Earth Materials
• Earth History

Geology in the National Parks
• Major themes of the course…
• Earth processes…
• Internal Processes - Moving Plates

Geology in the National Parks
• Major themes of the course…
• Earth processes…
• Surface Processes

What is Geology (Geosciences)?
• The study of - all aspects of the physical environment
– the Earth